Anybody's Child by Michelle Kidd (polar express read aloud .TXT) 📕

“Gunshots! My goodness, Deputy . . .” Her voice trailed as she squinted at his badge.

“Davis, ma’am,” he supplied. “Deputy Davis.”

“Deputy Davis, if you boys investigate every time some yahoo shoots off a gun in the county, how on earth do you ever get anything done?”

He smiled, shifted from one foot to the other, and laughed. “Well, yes, ma’am. I see your point, but I was in the area. A quick drive-by was no trouble at all. When I caught sight of lights on, I thought I’d reassure myself. Dispatch indicated the caller was real insistent we check things out. He said he saw unusual goings-on over here.”

“Here?” Despite her best efforts, Raven’s voice ended with an unnaturally high pitch. She cursed herself. Had she left one of the lights on? She gave a nervous laugh. “My nearest neighbor isn’t even in sight of my house.”

“Yes, ma’am, I noticed that. Maybe even more reason to be sure everything checks out.” He angled his head and tried to peer around her. “Mind if I take a look?”

Her heart plummeted. She caught her lower lip between her teeth and searched the night sky as if she could pluck out a plausible excuse. As she was about to speak, she noticed the heifer over the deputy’s shoulder. Left on her own, the beautiful bovine had wandered farther down the side yard, giving Raven the perfect distraction. “That’s the only unusual thing I’ve seen this morning.” Raven pointed out the large, dark shape. “Millard Woodsen’s cow is on the loose. I’m headed out the door, but I planned to call him later to let him know she had crossed the fence.”

Deputy Davis followed the direction Raven indicated, spotted the Jersey grazing along the railing, and gave a chuckle. The grin on his face suggested this would be a story he’d enjoy relating back at the office with his buddies.

“She got into my shed, too, and turned over a bunch of boxes. I had a devil of a time shooing her out.” The lie slid off Raven’s tongue like a pat of butter on a hot ear of corn.

“I did notice footprints headed out in that direction. Guess that makes sense. Still . . . I’d sleep better if I checked things out and made sure you were safe. Pretty young lady out here all alone, you can’t be too careful.” There wasn’t any trace of suggestiveness to his comment, just a good, old southern boy doing what came naturally. “Mind if have a quick look-see?”

She hedged. If she didn’t let him in, it might appear she had something to hide. On the other hand, if she turned him loose . . .

Time for drastic measures.

The deputy seemed like a decent enough guy. She’d known the type her whole life. Hoping he wouldn’t call her bluff, Raven took a step back, opened the door wide, switched gears as she channeled her best Scarlet O’Hara. “You’re welcome to come in, officer, but I am running late. I have a doctor’s appointment in Charlottesville first thing. It’s a bit of a drive, so that’s why I’m up so early.” She paused for dramatic effect. “I’ve been waiting months for an opening—I bet you’ve never had to wait to see your gynecologist. You wouldn’t believe the trouble I’ve had.”

 The deputy recoiled at the word, as she’d hoped he would, behaving as if she’d removed her ovaries and waved them at him on a stick. Encouraged, she gushed on, “You can’t imagine all I’ve been through with—”

“Oh—oh—okay. He patted the air between them to ward off what he feared might be a detailed description of some unmentionable female disorder. “That’s all right. I wouldn’t want to make you late since you are heading out the door.” He moved backward several steps wanting no part of that sort of discussion.

Raven suppressed a smile. His reaction was comical. “Well, can you at least let Millard Woodsen know about his cow?”

“S-sure thing.” Davis was halfway to the cruiser. He turned, tipped his hat, and gave a quick nod. “Sorry to bother you, ma’am.”

“No trouble at all. Anything else?”

When he stopped and suddenly seemed to recall something, she thought perhaps she’d overdone the ditzy southern belle thing. He raised his chin and indicated the Dodge. Her heart leaped to her throat.

“Not trying to tell you your business, but you should let the engine warm up before you take off,” he advised. “Hard on a vehicle to drive it cold.”

She swallowed several times to make sure her voice was steady. “Thank you, Deputy. I was about to do that when you pulled up.” She held the keys in her hand, jingling them with a forced smile. Just go already!

He hesitated a minute longer as if trying to decide whether to engage in conversation again. Realizing he had the safety of the patrol car, he ventured a question. “You wouldn’t be looking to sell, would you? Got me a teenager who’s interested in muscle cars. That’s a beaut.”

Oh, for goodness sake! Keep calm, Raven. “Thanks, but no!” She yelled back, already in the process of closing the door.

He stood with his wrist resting on the top of the vehicle. “Might be interested if you should change your mind.”

For an insane minute, she pictured him insisting on a test drive and the two of them tooling down the country roads with Mack bumping along inside the trunk. Keep it together, girl. “I know where to find you if I do.” She gave him a final wave as she stepped into the house, leaned against the doorjamb, and pressed her fists hard against her mouth. Too close!

When she heard the motor start, she inched the curtain aside, peered out the window, and made sure he had left in the direction of Woodsen’s farm before she sprang into action.

The clock chimed the quarter-hour. Raven wouldn’t have time to make it to the lake before the sun rose. She’d have to improvise. Keys in hand, she sprinted to the car and slid into the driver’s seat. Her adrenaline kicked into high gear. If she had wings, she might fly. The engine attempted to turn over, sputtered, then died. No—not now!

She slammed her fist against the steering wheel. This could not be happening. Breathe, Raven. She tapped her foot once to the gas pedal like Uncle Ray had taught her, offered up a plea to whoever was in charge of such things, and turned the key. This time the motor purred to life. Raven shifted the car into drive, clenched her jaw, and drove into the waning darkness.

Once on the road, the trees boxed her in on either side. Their winter branches stretched across to entwine overhead, dappling the road with light. Gravel shifted under the Dodge’s large tires, kicking up dirt and dust as Raven sped through the night.

She focused on the road as she cut through the murky haze, seized with a sudden sense of isolation. She realized she was all alone in the world. No friends. No family . . . well, none that she could claim. The closest thing she had to a human companion lay wrapped up dead in the trunk of her car. What did that say about her? An odd sort of despair settled in her chest, an ache nothing satisfied. She gripped the wheel tighter until the leather creaked. The don’t-think-just-do philosophy shoved aside anything else. She’d bemoan her wasted opportunities later.

Raven drove until she reached a deserted area. The car rocked from side to side as she pulled off the road and parked behind a clump of bushes. Unaware she’d been holding her breath, she relaxed slightly when the vehicle came to rest. Was it insane she wanted to disturb Mack as little as possible? Now the time had come to leave him, her insides cramped with remorse for what she was about to do.

Raven pressed the emergency brake with her left foot, popped the trunk, and prepared herself for the cold as she stepped into the frosty morning air. The sky had grown from indigo to a midnight blue. Streaks of color began to line the darkness. She stretched her arms and rolled her neck, knowing extracting Mack from the trunk was not going to be as easy as it had been to get him inside. She braced herself mentally and physically this time. The dry leaves crunched beneath her boots as she made her way to the back of the car with a grim determination.

Raven stood over Mackenzie, a sick, empty sensation burning in her stomach. “Forgive me, Mack.” She grimaced as she took hold of the edges of the shower curtain, bracing her feet, first one, then the other against the bumper. She strained to pull him up and out the trunk. She inched, bit by bit, ever so slowly until he toppled out. Raven staggered and fell hard on her bottom, his weight landing on top of her. She cringed and shoved at the body. A hand slipped out and caught in her hair. Horrified, she scrambled from beneath him and shuddered.

Keep it together, Raven.

After gulping several calming breaths, she was thankful for the sting to the air—its sharpness cleared her head. Blood hummed in her ears, almost blocking out the rushing Tye River yards away. She looked at the cart and decided it would be quicker to drag him rather than load everything on the dolly. Precious seconds slipped by. No time to be particular. She tucked Mack’s arm back into the shower curtain and pulled him toward the water.

Raven struggled with the weight through the underbrush, twigs, and leaves, praying with each bump the thick plastic wouldn’t get hung or rip.

 When she reached the edge and stepped into the moving torrent, the cold curled around and soaked into her boots. Its chill inched up her calves, knees, and to her thigh. Of course, the suede was ruined, but a small price to pay. The icy stream was like a thousand tiny needles stinging her flesh.

 Thankfully, the river wasn’t wide here. It was a stone’s toss from one side of the bank to the other and shallow enough to see the smooth stones through the murky water. It didn’t need to be deep, just sufficient to wash away any evidence. Unfortunately, it also meant traces that might tie back to Dominic and Nicholas.

“Don’t worry, my friend. You won’t be here long.” She tugged until she had him midstream, then gave Mack a final pat. “Goodbye, Mackenzie. If it’s the last thing I do, I’ll get them.” Her words floated away, carried by the sound of the rushing river.

Raven sloshed out of the stream, trailing rivulets of brown water over the dirt and leaves. The wind cut through to her damp skin. Her body shivered uncontrollably as she climbed the embankment. She needed to get out of these wet clothes. Everything would have to be trashed. Thankfully, the ground was frozen. No track marks, just the trail where she’d dragged the body. She grabbed a branch and meticulously began the process of covering the path she had made.

By the time she returned to the car, the dove-gray sky blushed a dusty rose near the horizon. Trees no longer fringed the night in black but revealed subtle shades of charcoal and dim emerald. Raven’s body shook violently. She clenched her jaw to avoid the jarring chatter of teeth, started the engine, and pulled away. This was far from over, she vowed.

***End of sample chapters***